First year with rescue dogbrings merriment

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Readers may remember in April, I visited the Pet Expo at the Orange County fairgrounds and impulsively adopted a Chihuahua-lab mix rescue dog we named Stasha.

Since then, with the help of Vladae, the Russian Dog Wizard, we're now both well-trained.

Stasha has appeared in my column and on Facebook from time to time this year and has developed her own fan base.

As we shop around town and eat in pet-friendly restaurants, she is recognized. Readers are far more excited to meet her than they are to meet me.

She's usually decked out in colorful sweaters and eagerly poses for pictures with folks.

Readers often ask what she's been up to. Over the past 10 months, Stasha's been a busy girl.

In Palm Springs, she stayed at the Parker Hotel, where she charmed everyone.

It was my first hotel experience with her. I used Starwood miles for the stay, but they told me there'd be a “nominal charge” for Stasha.

Upon check-out, I found out the nominal charge was $150 per night for the dog!

These days, I check for pet-welcoming hotels on
dogfriendly.com and pay a bit closer attention to those “nominal” charges.

Stasha has made some great friends. She loves visiting her best buddy, Mojo – another rescue – who now lives in the Hollywood Hills.

On more than one occasion, O.C. Register columnist Frank Mickadeit has been her baby sitter.

One evening while I was out, I asked whether he'd stop by and walk her. I came home to find the two of them on the couch watching television.

Her uncle Frank – as we call him – said she'd convinced him to stay and hang out.

It's no wonder he's so good with her, in 1999, Mickadeit wrote the book, “Dogs on the Couch: Behavior Therapy for Training and Caring for Your Dog,” which you still can find online.

He's her own special dog whisperer!

On Thanksgiving Day, Stasha celebrated her first birthday with a weekend trip in the motor home to Ocotillo Wells.

But this little cutie has had her challenges recently. About four months ago, she started limping. We thought she just pulled something while running and playing, but a trip to the vet revealed something more serious.

The next thing we knew, we were at Veterinary Surgical Specialists in Tustin seeing an orthopedic vet (
www.vssoc.com).

I had no idea a medical complex like this existed in Orange County. It was so high-tech, offering specialists in dentistry, ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics and neurology for animals.

Turns out, Stasha had a birth defect in her left leg. One of her bones was growing crooked, placing pressure on the elbow and causing the limp. If the leg wasn't fixed, she eventually could have serious trouble walking.

This was a side of pet ownership I wasn't emotionally prepared for. The idea of putting her through surgery was tough.

Three weeks ago, Stasha was operated on by orthopedic surgeon Tony Cambridge.

Her Petplan Insurance covered 80 percent of her medical bills, which were more than $2,000.

She came home with a purple cast on her leg and five different medications.

One friend suggested Stasha try her pain pills so I'd know what she was experiencing – that's when I realized I need smarter friends.

Through it all, Stasha has been a model patient.

Her stitches came out last week, and she still has three more weeks of recovery, but it's not slowing us down during the Christmas season.

I needed to figure out how Stasha could keep her busy holiday schedule and not walk on the healing leg.

A pet stroller was the answer on
Amazon.com for about $90.

I thought the price was a bit steep – until I called a pet boutique in Fashion Island and found out their strollers started at $300.

This past weekend, Stasha and her stroller enjoyed the Naples boat parade festivities in Long Beach.

Uncle Frank was along, too, and mentioned how creepy it was that both the dog and I were dressed alike in our red Santa jackets! What can I say? At least the dog didn't have the same candy cane-colored wig I did.

This weekend, she'll be attending several parties with other furry friends and will enjoy Newport's Christmas Boat parade in her stroller.

Adopting this dog has been an amazing experience and probably saved her life. If a pet is on your Christmas wish list, contact a local shelter and consider a rescue animal.

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